SC releases parameters for social media identity verification

In a criminal case, how can an individual be proven as the account owner/holder of a social media account?

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

According to the Supreme Court (SC), there are several ways.In a decision penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, the SC’s First Division affirmed the conviction of an individual (XXX) for committing psychological violence against his former girlfriend (AAA) by posting derogatory statements about her on Facebook.

The case stemmed from a Facebook post in Kapampangan calling AAA a dirty woman and an animal, with the author of the post threatening to box AAA when he sees her. The insults were repeated by the author in the comments section of the post, which was public.

The SC said that in criminal cases, the prosecution must prove not only the elements of the crime but also the identity of the offender.

It explained that for crimes committed through social media platforms, such as Facebook, the basic features of the platform must be considered.